Renewable Energy Systems Offsets

CCX has developed simple, standardized rules for issuing Carbon Financial Instrument® (CFI™) contracts for eligible renewable energy projects on the basis of displacement of CO₂ emissions associated with fossil fuel based electricity. Eligible renewable energy projects include wind and solar that are not being used to meet obligations established by state or local mandates (e.g., state renewable portfolio standards).

Basic Specifications:

Renewable energy systems activated on or after January 1, 2003 may qualify.
Qualifying projects may earn Offsets during the years 2003-2010.
Project proponents need to demonstrate clear ownership rights to the environmental attributes associated with the renewable energy production.
The energy generated cannot be sold as "green".
Environmental attributes, such as renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by qualifying systems must be surrendered to and retired by CCX in order to prevent double counting.
All projects must be independently verified by a CCX-Approved Verifier.

The CFI crediting rate for renewable energy generation projects is the region-specific value as determined by the U.S. EPA’s Emissions and Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) tool, unless the project proponent can demonstrate that an alternative emission displacement rate is appropriate.

Related Documents

Chicago Climate Exchange Offset Project Protocol:
Renewable Energy Systems